If true altruism is defined in such a way that any kind of self interest or gratification has to be excluded then it would debatable, not so much if it is "possible" but if it actually exists, I guess.

The question then arises is whether altruistic behavior is "true" or not is important or makes any difference?

"Yes I realize the question has probably appeared on TA before but not since I've been here..."

Yeah, I think it has, as I recall, Unseen began something similar some time ago, but you know how he's always trying to start trouble. It might have been during one of your name changes, you might have missed it.

There was a time when I would have said yes, but I've come to rethink that position. Even those who donate to charity anonymously or throw themselves on hand grenades or become suicide bombers, do not do so out of altruism, they do it because they get satisfaction from believing they are serving the greater good, or in the case of the latter, setting themselves up for those 72 virgins at the end of the rainbow.

Yes, I do, because some of us have the capacity to feel empathy and compassion for other people and animals. That feeling can be sufficiently strong to induce us to act solely in the interest of others without consideration for ourselves. On the other hand, there are the Republicans.